Fostering Quality Culture: Representatives from European Universities Share Experiences at a First International Initiative organized by VMU

From April 7th to 11th, 2025, Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) hosted the international Erasmus+ BIP event “Fostering Quality Culture in HEI,” dedicated to quality assurance experts from higher education institutions. The event was organized by the VMU Study Quality Department to create a platform for sharing best practices, discussing quality assurance challenges, and strengthening international ties among colleagues.    

This intensive five-day event gathered over twenty experts from fourteen European universities. Participants listened to the presentations, actively engaged in interactive workshops, and discussions, during which they delved into the current situation of quality assurance in higher education and potential ways for improvement. The main goal of the event was to identify the most effective practices, strategic methods, and crucial stages necessary for fostering the competencies of higher education institutions and forming a sustainable quality culture. 

VMU Vice-Rector for Studies, dr. Simona Pilkienė, emphasized the strategic importance of such events, stating that: “The transition from measuring quality indicators to fostering a culture of quality across all levels of the university is a key objective for VMU. This goal is being pursued by engaging the entire academic community and sharing experiences with international partners. The experience-sharing week, organized by VMU for the first time in this format, was highly successful. We are truly pleased that VMU became a hub for sharing practices, and that the solutions identified during the week will contribute to the development of a quality culture not only at VMU, but also at our partner universities abroad.” 

Dr. Simona Pilkienė

The event focused on strengthening quality culture in universities, highlighting the exchange of best practices, innovative teaching methods, student engagement, and the challenges posed by artificial intelligence in HEI. Participants explored the shift from performance measurement to long-term impact, the role of microcredentials, student satisfaction indicators, and community involvement.  Žydrūnė Žemaitytė-Kviklienė, Project Manager of the Study Quality Department, stated that “this international event became an excellent opportunity for participants not only to deepen their knowledge in thematic seminars, participate in discussions, and present their institutions, but also to get acquainted with Kaunas and Lithuanian culture, as well as to develop personal and professional relationships.” The event’s sessions were led by representatives from European and Lithuanian universities, the Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education (SKVC), and VMU staff. 

Jurgita Belickė, Head of the VMU Study Quality Department, emphasized an important outcome of the event: “One of the most significant achievements of this international week is the participants’ unanimous agreement to continue the initiated cooperation. We are determined to actively initiate joint projects that will help us gain a deeper understanding of the quality culture and seek innovative solutions in the field of higher education. Furthermore, we are pleased to have agreed to collaborate again next year in organizing another intensive Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) event. I believe that this continued cooperation will allow us to constantly share the most successful quality assurance examples, methods, and tools that are applicable in different institutional contexts. By jointly analyzing the emerging challenges, we will be able to find even more effective and innovative solutions that will be beneficial and applicable in all participating higher education institutions.” 

The international week “Fostering Quality Culture in HEI” at Vytautas Magnus University became an important step in strengthening international cooperation in the field of quality assurance. The initiative of the VMU Study Quality Department demonstrates the university’s commitment to pursuing the highest quality and actively contributing to the international higher education community.